Overhead trackway system



E. T. BENNINGTON.

OVERHEAD TRACKWAY SYSTEM- APPLICATION FILED act. 20. 1919.

Patented Apr. 118, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

E'. T. BENNZlNGTON.

OVERHEAD TRACKWAY SYSTEM.

APPLICATION nuzn OCT. 20. m9.

1,41 ,829,, Patented Apr. 18, 1922.

s sums-sum 2.

E. T. BENNINGTON.

OVERHEAD TRACKWAY SYSTEM- APPLICATIONVFILED OCT. 20. 1919.

EARL I. BENNING-TON', F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

OVERHEAD TRAGKWAY SYSTEM.

ira-see.

Application filed October 20, 1919. Serial 1%. 331,914. I

Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Overhead Trackway Systems, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to overhead trackways for trolleys adapted to convey freight or merchandise, and it relates particularly to overhead trackways of the monorail type.

The principal object of the invention is to provide in a trackway system of this character, improved cross-overs and switches, and thereby eliminate what heretofore has been a not altogether satisfactory feature of overhead monorail trackways heretofore constructed.

For the cross-overs and switches of prior systems, different instrumentalities andconstructions have been tried, none of which have been entirely satisfactory, these including pivoted switch and cross-over track sections, and rotary turntable-like members carrying track sections.

In accordance with my invention both as applied to a cross-over and switch, there is provided a carrier for the track sections, suitably supported andsguided in a frame for straight line or endwise movement to bring the proper switch or cross-over section into alignment with the stationary track sections.

My invention may be further briefly summarized as consisting in certain novel details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts which will be described inthe specification and set forth-in the appended claims.

- In the accompanying sheets of drawings showing one embodiment of my invention, Fig.1 is a diagrammatic plan view of an overhead monorail system constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view showing particularly a two-way switch of Fig. 1 and parts of the stationary track sections with which the movable track sections of the switch 00- operate; Fig. 3 is a side View of the same, showing also a trolley supported on one of the stationary track sections; Fig. 4: is a top plan view of the cross-over of Fig. 1 with the crossover proper and the associated stationary track sections turned for convenience of illustration, forty-five degrees from the position shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5

is a side view of the same; and Fig. 6 is a sectional view substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

In Fig.1, let 10 represent the main track, and starting from the left hand of the figure it will be observed that there is a crossover 0, by reason of a crossing track 11; then a twoway switch S, for a switch or branching track 12; then a-second two-way switch S, for a second switch track 13, also branching off the main track 10. It will be observed also, that from the switch track 12, two switch tracks 14 and 15 branch off, for which there is provided a three-way switch S A system of this kind might have further branches, switches and cross-overs, but those shown in Fig. 1 are suflicient to illustratethe features of the present invention.

For each switcha sliding carrier which has a stright line or endwise movement carries suitably positioned movable track sections, the number of which depends uponthe number of stationary branch tracks at the point where the switch is located. In Figs. 2 and 3 a two-way switch is shown, but the construction is the same irrespective of the number of branching trackways to be accommodated, except as to dimensions and number of movable track sections with which the-movable switch member is provided.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, let 1O represent the stationary track sections which are in alignment, and let 12 be the branch track section. Between the left hand track section 10 and the other two track sections and above the same, there is provided a stationary frame 16, which is rectangular in shape, and is preferably formed of angle sections with horizontally disposed inwardly projecting flanges 16 to form guideways for a rectangular carrier 17 which carries the movable track sections, here two in number, and designated 18 and 19, which carrier is movable in an endwise direction lengthwise of the' movable track sections1-8 and 19 are supported from and beneath the carrier 17 by similar arms or brackets 22, having clamps at their lower ends which engage the tops of the rail sections. The stationary tracksections l0, l0 and 12 may be supported from the upper structure 20 by somewhat similar arms 23.

In Fig. 2 the carrier 17 is in a position such that the movable track section 19 joins the left hand track section 10 with the switch track 12, the carrier then being at one end of the frame 16. If the trolley is to travel across the switch from one track section 10 to the other track section 10, the carrier will be slid endwise along the frame 16 until the movable track section 18 is inalignment with the two track sections 10. The carrier with its movable track sections may be slid along the frame 16 in any suitable manner, but in this instance, flexible cords or ropes 24 are connected to both ends of the carrier and pass over sheaves 25, at the ends of the frame 16, the ends of the ropes hanging down so that they will'be within reach of an operator on the floor beneath.

For a three-way switch the frame 16 will be somewhat longer than the frame of the two-way switch, andthe carrier 17 will have three movable track sections designated in Fig. 1,26, 27 and 28. 'As will appear from Fig. 1, when the carrier is in its mid position, the middle straight track section 27 will al low the trolley to pass in a straight line from one portion of the track 12 to the other. If

the carrier is moved to the left hand end of the frame 16, the movable track section 26 joins the track sections 12 and 15. Similarly, if the carrier is moved to the right hand end of frame 16, th movable track section 28 joins the track sections 12 and 141-.

As before stated, the principle on which the switches are constructed, is utilized also in the construction of the cross-overs, there being a rectangular supporting frame designated'in Figs. 1,4 and 5 by the reference character 30, to accommodate the 'endwise movablecarrier 31 which supports beneath the same, two movable track sections 32, 33, so positioned that when the carrier is moved to one end of the frame 30, one movable track section 33 joins the two aligned stationary track sections 11, 11, so that the trolle'y may pass from one to the other, and when the carrier is moved to the opposite end of the frame 30, the other movable track section 32 joins the other two stationary tracksections 10, 10, so that the trolley can pass from one to the other. The frame 30 and carrier 31- are constructed like the frame and carrier of the switch, and the movable cross-over track section is supported from and beneath the carrier in the plane of the main track sections in the same way that the movable track sections of the switch are supported.

1n the cross-over illustrated, the stationary track sections 10 and 11 are at right angles, hence the movable track sections are similarly positioned with respect to each other. As will be seen from both Figs. 1 and 4c, the frame "and carrier are so positioned that the carrier is moved in a direction making an angle of forty-five degrees with respect to the track sectionslO andll.

Any suitable form of trolley may be. 2

to engage two trolley wires 38, 38 which ear-- tend along all stationary track sections slightly above the 'same,-and' short'trolley wire sections 39, 39, extending along all the track sections of the switches and cross' overs. I

' The use of the sliding carriers for the movable switch and cross-over tracksections necessitates a novel disposition of the trolley wires at and adjacent to the switches and cross-over. It will be apparent,'if the trolley wires adjacent the switches and crossovers and on the switches and cross-overs were at the same level, that when the carrier of a switch or the carrier of a cross-over was moved endwise, a movable section ofa posi-' tive trolley wire would be brought in direct alignment with the two opposite stationary: sections of a negative trolley wire, and vice versa. This would result in disastrous short circuits. To overcome this, the trolley wires along each stationary track section as the latter approaches an switch or cross-over, are arranged at di erent levels, and the trolley wires along each track section of each switch and cross-over are 311'? ranged at difierent levels, this being clearly illustrated in Figs. 3, 5' and 6'. In conse-, quence, as a'switch or cross-over carrieris moved along'its supporting frame, there is a safe ve-rtical'spacing at all times between the positive and negative trolley wires.

The trolley wires along the stationary track sections may be supported 'by arms 40 carried by the downwardly extending arms or brackets .23 which support the track sections. Likewise, the trolley wires 39 carried by the switches or cross-overs may be supported-by laterally projecting arms 41' attached to the arms22 which dependfrom the carriers of the switches or cross-overs and support the movable track sections of the latter. This method of-supporting the trolley wires along the stati onaryiand movable track sections is shown in different figures of the drawings suflicientlyr'to be clearly understood, but as my invention does not reside in the details of the trolley supporting means except in so far as the latter support the positive and negative wires at different elevations at and adjacent the switches and cross-overs, further and more detailed illustration is thought to be unnecessary.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention, it will be understood that I am not to be confined to the precise details shown, as modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In an overhead trackway system for trolleys, a plurality of stationary track sections, a plurality of movable track sections adapted to connect the stationary track sections in pairs, a carrier on which the movable track sections are supported, and a stationary frame on which the carrier is adapted for movement in an endwise direction, said carrier being in the form of a frame composed of marginal angle members to which the movable track sections are connected, and which have flanges overlying portions of the stationary frame.

2. In an overhead trackway system for trolleys, a plurality of stationary track sections, a plurality of movable track sections adapted to connect the stationary track sections in pairs, a carrier on which the movable track sections are supported, and a rectangular frame on which the carrier is supported for movement in an endwise direction, said frame being formedof angles with vertically and horizontally disposed flanges, and the carrier being fitted inside the vertical flanges and projecting over and. supported on the horizontal flanges of the frame.

3. In an overhead trackway system for trolleys, a plurality of stationary track sections, a plurality of movable track sections adapted to connect the stationary track sections in pairs, a carrier on which the movable track sections are supported, and a rectangular frame on which the carrier is supported for movement in an endwise direction, said frame being formed of angles having vertical and inwardly projecting hori zontal flanges, and the carrier being formed of angles having outwardly projecting horizontal flanges extending over the horizontal flanges of the frame, and having vertical flanges inside the horizontal flanges ofthe frame.

4. An overhead trackway system for trolleys comprising a plurality of stationary track sections adapted to be connected in pairs so that a trolley may move from one to the other, a carrier having a plurality of movable track sections, a frame or support over which said carrier is adapted to be moved to connect different pairs of stationary track sections, positive and negative trolley wires extending along the stationary and movable track sections, the positive and negative trolley. wires of the movable track sections and of the stationary track sections adjacent the movable track sections being at different elevations.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

EARL T. BENNINGTON. 

